Leeds forced to hang on in closing stages but secure all three points to stay top of the Championship

By Sunni Upal

23rd September 2017,6:05 pm

Updated: 24th September 2017,1:34 am

PABLO HERNANDEZ’s corner was bundled over his own line by Bartosz Bialkowski as Leeds survived a major scare to beat Ipswich 3-2 and maintain their position at the top of the Championship.

The Spaniard profited from Bialkowski’s horrendous error as he pushed his drilled set-piece into his own net, giving the Whites breathing space after Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Kalvin Phillips had netted either side of David McGoldrick’s equaliser.

Joe Garner pulled a goal back for resilient Ipswich soon after Bialkowski’s gaffe but Leeds held on at a sold-out Elland Road to ensure they bounced back from last Saturday’s league defeat at Millwall.

Similar to the performance against Birmingham in their last home outing, Leeds were forced to dig deep to stay unbeaten in front of their fans.

Lasogga looked in the mood from the off and, after hitting a 25-yard free-kick against the wall, he soon fired Leeds ahead in the 13th minute.

Conor Shaughnessy, who signed a four-year deal at the club earlier this week, put it on a plate for the German striker, catching out the Ipswich defence with a sensational through ball, and Lasogga sent a low shot into the bottom corner.

But the hosts became too wasteful in possession following the opener and Ipswich made them pay in the 29th minute when McGoldrick equalised.

The striker, unmarked in the six-yard box, headed in Grant Ward’s free-kick after fit-again defender Liam Cooper was penalised for a push on Garner.

I'M HERRERA TO STAY

Yet Leeds were back in front within two minutes through Phillips, who latched onto a Samuel Saiz lay-off and rounded Bialkowski before slotting home.

Saiz wasted a glorious opportunity to fire Leeds further ahead, taking too many touches and then shooting at an Ipswich defender after Hernandez’s backheel had located him free inside the box.

Ipswich caused Leeds, without defensive lynchpin Pontus Jansson due to a hamstring injury, problems from set-pieces as the half wore on and Vernon Anita had to be alert to clear Garner’s header off the line in the 45th minute.

Leeds were again sloppy at the start of the second half and only a fine save from Felix Wiedwald denied McGoldrick, Ipswich’s most dangerous player, from equalising for a second time.